Let your purpose lead the way!
When you’re coming out of a period of rest or play, it can be tempting to jump into action – any action, as long as it’s moving. And if you’re thinking that September may be too late? Quite the contrary. There’s no better time than now and the coming months to really get clear on your vision and move toward it, laying the solid foundation upon which 2023.
The most powerful forward momentum will come directly from your long-term goals and your vision.
Remember those annual resolutions? The intentions you may have set at the beginning of the year may be a distant memory as we enter the autumn season. We recommended that you set them aside in favor of thoughtful, self-aware, and measurable steps connected to your vision for your life.
Taking calculated, consistent, and relevant action is the best way to make your dream a reality. So let’s get to it!
Reflection leads to insight; insight leads to action.
Now is the time to capitalize on feeling rested, renewed, and reinvigorated; it’s time to work toward building your dreams and crush those goals!
Below, you’ll find an example of one short self-assessment to determine where you are in relation to the goals you have set for yourself and your career. As you consider each question, reflect – without judgment! – on your progress. Take special note of what has changed or shifted for you. It’s entirely possible that a target you set for yourself or your career path last January no longer aligns with who you are.
- Where am I on the path to realizing these goals? Be gentle with yourself!
- Who has shared or supported my goals? Who knows about my goals?
- Have any of my goals changed? What prompted them to change?
- Do any of my goals no longer align with my vision or intention?
- Are any of my goals missing a SMART element? (Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based).
The more I give myself permission to live in the moment and enjoy it without feeling guilty or judgmental about any other time, the better I feel about the quality of my work.
Wayne W Dyer
Starting from “WHY?”
There is one question notably missing from the list above: Which new goals do you intend to set, or which goals do you intend to change moving forward?
Before you can answer, it’s important to reflect on your why – your purpose, your intention, and your values.
When our why is clear and purposeful, the HOW becomes much more accessible, motivating, and impactful. The how finds a way; you will relentlessly pursue only those goals that are deeply aligned with what matters most to you.
If we set goals from a surface-level perspective, our progress may feel sluggish, like hiking uphill with a backpack full of rocks!
We are far more likely to be motivated by goals that feel like swimming downstream or running downhill. That is not to say you should choose goals that feel easily attainable; rather, identify those goals that are most closely aligned with your values. Think of it as feeling in flow.
How to Create a Personal Mission Statement
You may already have an idea of your personal why, but where does your why live? Writing a personal mission statement is one way to drive your values-aligned goals and actions. This mission statement is more than a place to end up or a vision of success; it’s the driving force behind who you want to be for the world.
To uncover your personal mission statement, ask yourself:
What do I want to exist in the world that doesn’t exist now, or could be improved?
What do I want my life to look like?
What is most important to me?
Who do I want to be for my colleagues? For my family? For my community? For the world?
Your mission statement will be most inspiring – and grounding – if it clearly defines the person you intend to be. Most importantly, your mission statement should ignite your passion to take daily, consistent actions that will pull you closer and closer to being the way you want to be.
Create your Action Plan – Then get to it!
For career transitioners, entrepreneurs, leaders, and executives, embarking on a period of renewed growth or stepping into a change is wrought with opportunities to be “in action,” but it takes a certain type of action to make goals and dreams come true!
To meet your goals, you need to take actions that align with your values.
One approach to strategic planning is to create an action plan that stems directly from the SMART goals established as you reflected on where you want to be in a set amount of time.
To simplify this process and take it one step further, we suggest you identify the baby steps that will make the most impact on your professional life.
For example, if workplace wellness is important to you, will you begin meetings by building community or checking in with your colleagues? If work-life balance eluded you in the past, will you put systems in place to take weekends off? If you are ready to embark on a new career adventure, will you dedicate ten minutes each day to taking actions that will make this change a reality?
Chase your joy!
When you uncover why you want to change, your goals take on new life, new meaning, and new power. Those goals you set back in the beginning of the year? Reinvent them. Renew them. Recharge them with the energy and forward momentum that you gained through your experience and periods of rest and play.
At PointNorth, we are here to help you get clear on your why. We work together to craft your action plan, build your confidence, and help you determine – and remind you of – your strengths and saboteurs. Working to align your life to your true values and purpose doesn’t have to be a process you undertake alone!
As new actions come to life before your eyes, and the path becomes clearer and clearer, remember: In everything you do, do more of what brings you joy.
The September cohort of our flagship coaching group, From Doubt to Confidence for Career Transitioners, kicks off on September 20th! Want to raise the volume of your confidence to determine your next phase and take action, with an expert hand guiding your way? Reach out to inquire about availability!
